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UK cabinet divided over military action in Iraq

SPLITS have opened up in the British cabinet over how robustly the UK
government should support American military action in Iraq, The Sunday Times
can reveal.

Senior ministers are at odds over whether to back US airstrikes against the
militant group Isis amid disagreements about the extent to which British
national interests are under threat.

Hawks say Britain will have to allow American warplanes to use bases in
Britain to launch attacks and believe the UK has vital interests at stake.

But doves, led by minister without portfolio Ken Clarke, are warning that it
would be folly to get involved in any form of military support. President
Barack Obama has sent 300 military personnel to Iraq and is considering
airstrikes.

Differences emerged in cabinet on Tuesday and a meeting of the National
Security Council (NSC) on Wednesday over whether to support the US.